Purum Documentation
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People
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The Purum is the smallest tribe among the 33 recognized tribe of Manipur having
a total population of 352 persons found in two villages called Purum Khullen and
Purum Likli in Saikul sub-division of Senapati district of Manipur. It is unfortunate
to mention that the number of Purum speaker is very less who can communicate fully
in Purum language. Mostly they communicate in Kom language.
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Language
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The word Purum is used to refer to a place, a language and the tribe. The language
spoken by the Purum village shows many traces of Meetei influenced, especially in
the vocabulary. The language belongs to TB family and most of the features are very
similar with Meeteilon (Meetei language) and other Kuki-Chin group of languages
spoken in Manipur. They do not have their own script. They use the Roman script
for the present writing.
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Religions and Festivals
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The Purum practice ancestor worship and believe in supreme deity who controls the
universe. They worshipped the traditional house God KACHOPUI KACHOLAI “Sanamahi”
and LEIMAREL like Meeteis. Besides they also worshipped their traditional God NUNGJOMBA,
a deity.
Phou hongba is the traditional festival celebrated in the month of May which just
before seed sowing in the fields. Panthong Doi Thouri khaari is a religious ceremony
held in the month of January every year. The villagers pray to God to protect them
from diseases like cholera, diarrhoea etc. and also from the animals.
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Occupation
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Cultivation including paddy croping is the main occupation of Purum. Hunting is
also another major occupation of the people.
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Present Work
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Presently, Purum multilingual dictionary and transcription is being prepared.
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